Hannah g



(No Model.)

H. G. SUPLEE.

ABDOMINAL 'SUPPORTER.

No. 500,356. Patented June 27, 1893.

PETER coy. PHOTO'UTHD wnswmoron. 04 c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANNAH e. SUPLEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,356, dated June 27, 1893.

Application filed November 7, 1892. Serial No. 451,158. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HANNAH G. SUPLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

Various forms of abdominal supporters have heretofore been employed. Most of these lacked the essential elements of comfort and proper conformation to the figure. In some of these devices the drawing pressure was improperly located, and in others the fastening devices where the parts were brought together were centrally over the abdomen or directly at the sides where the weight of the superposed clothing acted to force the fastening devices into the flesh, and the object of my invention is to overcome these objections.

In carrying out my invention I employ a fabric shield which is curved both vertically and horizontally to conform to and embrace the abdomen and is provided with stiffening bones, and I employ a band to pass around the back over the hips, one end of which is formed as a continuation from the upper part of the fabric shield at one side. The other end of the band is extended diagonally and is of triangular conformation, the free edge of said end being provided with hooks or fastening devices, and upon the curved free edge of the fabric shield are coinciding eyes or fastening devices, and these fastening devices are connected in securing the supporter in position. This line of junction of the parts being approximately at the groin line where the superposed clothing hangs clear of the supporter, and exerts no pressure upon the fastenings thereof.

My improved supporter is to be made in graded sizes to fit the form of the wearer.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved supporter looking from the front. Fig. 2 is a view of the supporter laid out flat. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at a; x, and Fig.4 is a cross section at yy, showing the curved form of the fabric shield in both directions.

A represents the fabric shield composed of the fabric body a, top edge strip 1) and base I) and curved sides 0 c. The base I) is preferably rounded. This is provided with a central stay bone 2' and radial bones 3, 4, and the curved outer or edge bones 15, 16. This fabric shield supporter as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is curved or concaved in both a vertical and horizontal direction which permits ot' the same covering and embracing the abdomen in giving a comfortable support thereto, because said fabric shield extends from the waist down to the pubic region and between the groin lines on the sides. The weight and strain are directly supported by the back band and are carried by the back and hips. The band B passes around the back and over the hips and one end of said band is connected to or formed as a continuation from the upper portion of one side of said fabric shield. The band B is provided with complete upper and lower members or edge strips 01 e. The strip at is a continuation of the strip b and the strip e curves downward to the base I). The band B has central cross and longitudinal stays or stiffeners f f which consist of fabric pockets in which are inserted strips of whalebone or other flexible material. This prevents the band at the back buckling, collapsing or creasing in either direction and thereby becoming uncomfortable to the wearer and forms a central stay structure over the small of the back. The band B from the central stays toward the edges is preferably made with shirr strings in pockets. Any number desired may be employed, the object being to contract the band or shorten it lengthwise in case the supporter from any reason is temporarily too tight or too loose. The edge strips 01 and e are made as pockets for the strings 5 and the strips 6 are also made as pockets and have strings 5 and adjoin the strips (1 and e. The strings 5 are long so as to tie in front of the fabric shield.

I employ hooks 18, 19 secured on the face of the fabric shield at a little below the center line, and the strings 5 from the pockets of the lower strips 6 and e are brought beneath these hooks 18, 19, and are tied. The effect of this is to keep the parts in place upon the figure and in their relation to each other.

The other or free end of the band is extended diagonally and is of triangular conformation, the strip e curving to the lower ICO edge thereof. The outer edge 9 of the free end of said band is provided with fastenings 8 adapted to engage other and coincidingfastening devices 9 011 the free curved edge 0 or side of the fabric shield for securing the supporter in place on the wearer. The line of junction of the edgesgaudcis approximately at or over the groin or line of union of the upper limb and abdomen and Where the superposed clothing falls over and clear of the fastenings and exerts no pressure to cause the parts to press upon the flesh, and where the drawing strain of the band is distributed along the entire meeting edges g and c in holding the fabric shield to the form of the wearer.

The fabric shield A gives a firm, even and unyielding support to the abdomen and there is no tendency of the same to draw out of shape in use. The straps it serve the purpose of connecting the base I) to the stockings or in any other desired mannerin maintaining the lower end of the shield A in place.

Signed by me this 28th day of October, A. D. 1892.

I-IANNAI-I G. SUPLEE. Witnesses:

HAROLD SERRELL, A. F. LE Gos'r. 

